The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c27.46

v1.c27.46

The ambassadors, along with Fr. de Sa and another Father, left Venkata's court in the same year 1601. Fr. Ricio, who remained at Chandragiri, wrote on October 20th, of the same year: "The King wishes to be in close friendship with the Portuguese, and sends his ambassadors to the Viceroy along with two of our Fathers, who are Fr. Simao de Sa and Fr. Belchior Coutinho, and presents (the Viceroy) with two rings that cost five thousand pagodes, along with a message showing his desire to be the brother in arms (ally) of the King of Portugal" ³. This extract shows clearly Venkata's purpose in sending such an embassy to the Poruguese Viceroy; it was to establish firmly a defensive alliance with Portugal, probably against the Mughal Emperor Akbar, whose designs were at least suspected at Venkata's court ⁴.